Music 3.0

We sat down with singer-songwriter (and illustrator) Scott Butler of the Austin, Texas based project, The Black and White Years. Scott reflects on early career choices, such as transforming the band from "alt-folk" to art pop upon the departure of their drummer. He also discusses the contentious nature of the band, and how that dynamic fostered a more creative environment. We also take a moment to discuss Scott's relationship with social media, and how his successful "Shorts" project came to be.

Keep up with Scott Butler via his website at lessawful.com, and on Instagram @theblackandwhiteyears.

Alec Ellin, along with his co-founder Sajan Sanghvi, started Laylo with the goal of connecting artists to their fans. Alec joined us on the PlusMusic Podcast to discuss Laylo, how it works, and Laylo's new feature, "Drops." He also took some time to discuss music tech, and where he believes our world is headed. Alec, Nick, and Brian discuss the future of immersive experiences, including the possibilities of digital assets such as virtual merch and collectibles. They also discuss the success of Clubhouse, and whether or not it's here to stay. 

Daniel Weisman made a living out of his passion for music. This encompassed a stop as an executive at Roc Nation, and managing the likes of Wale, Mike Posner, and Big Sean, helping them see some of the first successes of their young careers. This week on the PlusMusic Podcast, Dan discusses the steps he took to get where he is today, including critical decisions he made as an artist manager. Dan also gives us his thoughts on the music industry as a whole, and where he thinks it's headed in the future. Dan was also kind enough to share a few tips for up-and-coming artists, so you can be sure this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Rapper/producer 2Four from Nashville, Tennessee joined the PlusMusic Podcast this week to give us his perspective and experiences within the music industry. Growing up, 2Four had always loved music, leading to him joining band in school. To relax himself, he would write music, trying to figure out his sound at a young age. It all developed from there. 2Four has been releasing music since 2012, building a fan base in his hometown, and he eventually released an album in 2018. Get to know 2Four a little bit more, and see how he got to where he is today!

Get to know the band Pretty City`s early beginnings and influences. Each band member has a unique style of music that contributes differently and creates the band to be the sound they are today. With their world wide opportunities they have grown as a band and have learned an ample amount of tips and tricks within the music industry. Tune in to the PlusMusic Podcast to learn more.

Janiva Magness is a Grammy nominated artist that talks to us about her long career, 15 studio albums, and what it is like being on record label vs. what it is like being an indie artist. She makes it known that it is important to recognize and appreciate the importance of your fan base and musical family while making a career out of doing something you love. She also makes it known that her love for music is what got her where she is today because she didn't think she could sing, but after she got into the business she was put in a position where she had to sing or else she would lose her job... so she sang background for them and they loved it. Throughout this podcast you will learn how important it is to take a risk if you want to make it in the entertainment industry. 

Bonnie Whitmore has been surrounded by musicians her whole life and she always knew that being a musician is what she would do with her career. Throughout the podcast you will discover more and more about her unique style and what she has been doing to keep music alive during this tough time for the music industry.

Ray Suen is a passionate artist for anything he can get his hands on, ranging from the violin to keys. He has built his career by being himself, never settling, and taking risks. Those risks have paid off, leading Ray Suen to back the likes of The Killers, Childish Gambino, Lorde, and even our host Brian's own band Louis XIV, on tour. Throughout the podcast they discuss what the pandemic may do to the music industry and live music, while also bringing out memories about how he grew as a musician.

The Howl & The Hum are from the quaint city of York, England, which they describe as "very British." Sam, Conor and Brad joined us to talk about the slow building of their careers as they honed their skills in their hometown. They walk us through the eventual release of their beloved single, "Godmanchester Chinese Bridge," and the perfectly executed Spotify playlist placements that followed. Other topics of discussion include political frustration, both in the U.S. and U.K., and the powerful music that can be born from it, and the good and bad of social media, and adapting to it as a part of your music career.

We welcomed Dave Keuning, guitarist for legendary Las Vegas rock band, The Killers. We spoke to him about the pitfalls of searching for his first bandmates, and eventually meeting Brandon Flowers via an online ad, laying the foundation for what would become The Killers. Dave's solo work (under his namesake, Keuning) was also a topic of discussion, including the sonic differences between his debut album, Prismism, his upcoming sophomore album, and the next Killers album, which he has returned to be apart of. Nick, Brian and Dave also talk about fantasy football, and do a deep dive into everyone's favorite topic - American politics!

Keep up with Dave on his Instagram, @keuning.